Two people who have similar ideals as Chris McCandless and who are mentioned in the book Into the Wild as people that Chris envied for their beliefs are Jack London and Leo Tolstoy. Jack London is a man that Chris worshiped for his rugged individualism and eager for adventure which are both characteristics of Chris that he continues to show during his so called “Odyssey.” Gallien, who is the last man to see Chris alive, describes him as having “ill-considered Jack London fantasies. Jack London also believed that getting out into beauty of nature (which he did in the Sonoma Valley) is something that everyone needed and that is what Chris always wanted to do and does after graduating from Emory University in the summer of 1990 which eventually leads to his death on the Stampede trail in Alaska. Jack London believed farming was justifiable, basic, and idealistic ways of making a living which gave him great satisfaction of being able to make a living directly and honestly from the land and thereby remaining close to the natural world. Chris is proud to say to Jan Burres that he has been living honestly from the land and the fact that he has been able to sustain himself from nature by eating berries and various eatable plants that are named in his book that he carries with him. Chris shows traits similar to Tolstoy in his not wanting to have wealth which he showed in constantly giving his wealth away to charity. Chris shows that he too does not want wealth, when he burns all of his money in his wallet (he then stated that Thoreau and Tolstoy would have been proud) and gives $25,000 dollars to OXFAM charity. Chris also has many beliefs that he has gained though reading Peace and War by Tolstoy which he gave to Wayne Westerberg.
Hartzell, David. "A Short Jack London Biography." The World of Jack London. David A. Hartzell, 04 April 2008. Web. 27 Apr 2010. http://www.jacklondons.net/shortbio.html.
"Leo Tolstoy." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Advameg, Inc. , 2010. Web. 27 Apr 2010. <http://www.notablebiographies.com/St-Tr/Tolstoy-Leo.html>.
Hartzell, David. "A Short Jack London Biography." The World of Jack London. David A. Hartzell, 04 April 2008. Web. 27 Apr 2010. http://www.jacklondons.net/shortbio.html.
Mark Pilarski
By: Mark Pilarski Period: 4